Iron Mountain Road – Michael Rappa

These photos are from my visit to Mount Rushmore, including a drive along the scenic Iron Mountain Road. If you ever visit Mount Rushmore, I highly recommend first driving Iron Mountain Road from south to north. Complete with switchbacks, pigtail bridges, and single lane tunnels, it is a beautiful drive culminating in the final tunnel that frames Mount Rushmore as you drive through it. Along the way there are scenic lookouts, including one in which you can get your first look at Mount Rushmore from a distance across the valley.

As for Mount Rushmore itself, it is more impressive in person than photos would lead you to believe. It was late in the day by the time I got there so I only stayed long enough to take a few pics, though there is a hike around the monument if you have more time.

Click on any photo below to open a gallery.

A good look at the upper torso of Washington, which was never completed. The original intent was to carve all four presidents from head to waist.

Scenic lookout.

My first view of Mount Rushmore in the distance from a scenic lookout on Iron Mountain Road.

Scenic lookout with Mount Rushmore visible in the distance (upper right).

The last tunnel on Iron Mountain Road beautifully frames Mount Rushmore.

The other end of this final tunnel on Iron Mountain Road frames Mount Rushmore.

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota - September, 2017

View More Photos from This Trip

At last, nearly five months after returning from my trip out West, I finished processing my final batch of photos (sometimes this photography hobby is like having a second job). This collection of horizontal and vertical panoramas feature photos from my visits to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, as well as Mount Rushmore and Portland, Oregon.

Uncharacteristically for me, I took almost no real panorama shots on this trip. In fact, only two of the photos below were shot as panoramas. The rest were created by stitching together pairs of similar shots that I thought would look better combined than as individual photos.

Click on any photo to open a gallery.